October 21, 2018

Mk 10:35-45

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They replied, “We are able.”

Then Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John.So Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them.

But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.

Humbling ourselves to follow Jesus’ example

I taught a student who used to come into class, walk up to me, and stand in my face. When I would invite him to take a seat, he would respond, “Nah, I’m good. You stand, so I stand.” We had this interaction several times before I realized that this was less an act of defiance and more an expression of his desire for connection. He just had no idea what would lead to the connection he wanted.

James and John understand that they can’t get for themselves what they want, which was to share in Jesus’ glory. But they don’t understand what leads to Jesus’ glory. Jesus’ glory does not come from placing himself above, but by humbling himself all the way to the cross. And Jesus invites us to the same humility, which will lead us to be sharers in His glory. If Christ could humble himself, who are we not to?

Prayer

Litany of Humility

O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver me, Jesus.From the desire of being loved, Deliver me, Jesus.From the desire of being extolled, Deliver me, Jesus.From the desire of being honored, Deliver me, Jesus.From the desire of being praised, Deliver me, Jesus.From the desire of being preferred, Deliver me, Jesus.From the desire of being consulted, Deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being approved, Deliver me, Jesus.From the fear of being humiliated, Deliver me, Jesus.From the fear of being despised, Deliver me, Jesus.From the fear of suffering rebukes, Deliver me, Jesus.From the fear of being calumniated, Deliver me, JesusFrom the fear of being forgotten, Deliver me, Jesus

From the fear of being ridiculed, Deliver me, JesusFrom the fear of being wronged, Deliver me, JesusFrom the fear of being suspected, Deliver me, JesusThat others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.That others may be esteemed more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.That others may be chosen and I set aside, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be praised and I unnoticed, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.That others may be preferred to me in everything, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

—Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val

Please share the Good Word with your friends!

Welcome to Pray.ignatius.org

Ignatian spirituality reminds us that God pursues us in the routines of our home and work life, and in the hopes and fears of life's challenges. The founder of the Jesuits, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, created the Spiritual Exercises to deepen our relationship with Christ and to move our contemplation into service. May this prayer site anchor your day and strengthen your resolve to remember what truly matters.

Submit a Prayer Request

When you submit your prayer request, our prayer team will personally reply to you. You may choose to have your prayer request and personal reply shared with others. Simply include the Email addresses of those you would like to inform about your prayer request, and we will notify them on your behalf.

Please know that your prayer will be remembered at Mass, and in a special way by the Jesuit priests and brothers of Colombiere Center and Saint Camillus communities, who are missioned to pray for the Church and society.

All fields are optional except for the prayer request. Please know we will only share your first name and complete prayer request with the priests and brothers. Your name and Email addresses will never be shared with anyone, nor will you receive any additional correspondence from us.

October 21, 2018

Mk 10:35-45

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They replied, “We are able.”

Then Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John.So Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them.

But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.

Humbling ourselves to follow Jesus’ example

I taught a student who used to come into class, walk up to me, and stand in my face. When I would invite him to take a seat, he would respond, “Nah, I’m good. You stand, so I stand.” We had this interaction several times before I realized that this was less an act of defiance and more an expression of his desire for connection. He just had no idea what would lead to the connection he wanted.

James and John understand that they can’t get for themselves what they want, which was to share in Jesus’ glory. But they don’t understand what leads to Jesus’ glory. Jesus’ glory does not come from placing himself above, but by humbling himself all the way to the cross. And Jesus invites us to the same humility, which will lead us to be sharers in His glory. If Christ could humble himself, who are we not to?

Prayer

Litany of Humility

O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver me, Jesus.From the desire of being loved, Deliver me, Jesus.From the desire of being extolled, Deliver me, Jesus.From the desire of being honored, Deliver me, Jesus.From the desire of being praised, Deliver me, Jesus.From the desire of being preferred, Deliver me, Jesus.From the desire of being consulted, Deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being approved, Deliver me, Jesus.From the fear of being humiliated, Deliver me, Jesus.From the fear of being despised, Deliver me, Jesus.From the fear of suffering rebukes, Deliver me, Jesus.From the fear of being calumniated, Deliver me, JesusFrom the fear of being forgotten, Deliver me, Jesus

From the fear of being ridiculed, Deliver me, JesusFrom the fear of being wronged, Deliver me, JesusFrom the fear of being suspected, Deliver me, JesusThat others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.That others may be esteemed more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.That others may be chosen and I set aside, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be praised and I unnoticed, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.That others may be preferred to me in everything, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.